Texans hoping for 'exponential growth' from Will Fuller, Braxton Miller

The education of NFL rookie wide receivers involves plenty of trial, error and confusion.It's a complicated position and there are a lot of adjustments to be made.

It's the growth and determination through those learning moments that coaches and executives look for.

In the case of Texans wide receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller, both displayed potential after being drafted by the AFC South champions last season.

With 4.28 speed in the 40-yard dash, Fuller emerged as a dangerous deep threat who was difficult to corral in the open field.

What held Fuller back from making more of a splash as a rookie after being drafted in the first round out of Notre Dame was a tendency to drop long throws and nagging knee and hamstring injuries.

A converted quarterback and former Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Ohio State, Miller made a fairly smooth transition to slot wide receiver after being drafted in the third round. A shoulder injury eventually forced him onto injured reserve, ending his season prematurely.

The Texans are hopeful that both players will make more of an impact as they head into their second NFL season. The Texans hold their first organized team activity this week.

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) can't come down with a reception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Nashville. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) can't come down with a reception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) can't come down with a reception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Nashville. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) can't come down with a reception against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in

Texans hoping for 'exponential growth' from Will Fuller, Braxton Miller

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"'It's a difficult position to play in our league," Texans general manager Rick Smith said. "There's a lot of learning. There's a lot of physical demands on that position. The expectation and the progression from a career, there's exponential growth expected from Year 1 to Year 2.

"And it's because, in a lot of respects, they know pro football a lot better, the rhythm of the season, the demands, everything is just different. It's heightened. To the degree that a guy can come in and process that and play with some success as a rookie, that's good. That next year is when you tend to see that biggest jump."

The last time Fuller was in a game, an accurate pass from former Texans starting quarterback Brock Osweiler ricocheted off his forearm and cost them a potential 45-yard touchdown in a playoff loss to the New England Patriots.

"I got to make that play," Fuller said following the Texans' 34-16 AFC divisional-round playoff loss at Gillette Stadium. "It hit me in my hands. Brock threw a perfect pass. I got to make that play. Very tough. My team needed a play and I should've made that one. I just wasn't able to make the play."

Fuller caught just three passes for 16 yards in the AFC divisional-round loss to the Patriots despite being targeted six times.

It was a costly drop by Fuller, who finished his rookie season with 47 catches for 635 yards and two touchdowns.

"Look, Will is going to get better," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "We have not had a rookie receiver play as much as he played for us. I think he was probably in the top 10 of rookie receivers, as far as catches go.

"There are a lot of things Will has to work on to get better, and he knows what he needs to work on. He's a very smart player. I'm sure he feels as bad about that play as anybody, but that wasn't the difference in the game. That's just one play of many."

Fuller caught 19 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns through his first four NFL games. After the season, Fuller said he planned to try to gain some weight. He's listed at 180 pounds on the Texans' roster.

"I think the most I've ever weighed is probably about 190, and I felt pretty good," Fuller said. "That was around the combine. If I can get to that weight and keep my speed, that would be perfect."

Working in tandem with Pro Bowl alternate wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Fuller became the first rookie in NFL history with 300 receiving yards and a punt return for a touchdown during the first four games of the season. Former San Francisco 49ers running back Hugh McElhenny is the only other rookie to produce 300 yards from scrimmage and return a punt for a touchdown, which he accomplished in 1952.

Fuller finished third in the NFL among rookie wide receivers in yardage and sixth in catches.

"Just overall, I know the offense a lot better than I did when I first got here of course, and just from watching so much film, just overall structure of defenses as well," Fuller said. "Just running a lot of the same routes the whole year, you're just going to get a better feel for it and how coach wants it done."

Drafted in the third round, Miller wound up starting six of 10 games at slot receiver, catching 15 passes for 99 yards and one touchdown. He had three runs for zero yards as a Wildcat quarterback and three kickoff returns for 41 yards.

"I learned a lot," Miller said following the season. "It's just learning the little small details about getting separation, how to run your route, the little teaching techniques. I'm going to come back in 2017 and turn it up to another level.

"I just want to make sure my body is in line for the coming season, eat healthy, make sure I'm on the right workout plan, enhance the things I already know and be a better player."